The City of Surrey is kicking off the Christmas season with the return of the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival starting at noon Nov. 19 at City Hall Plaza.

The public is invited to join Mayor Linda Hepner and Council for a day of free family fun, including children’s activities, concert performances and the 6:30 p.m. lighting of a 17-metre-tall Christmas tree.

The festival goes from 12-7 p.m.

“The City of Surrey is excited to launch the holiday season and display our festive spirit with the annual tree lighting ceremony,” said Hepner. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring the community together for a free and fun event, so I encourage everyone to come down and enjoy the great entertainment.”

“We are pleased to once again partner with the City of Surrey to present the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival, a great event that brings the community together to kick off the holiday season,” said Coast Capital Savings spokesperson Wendy Lachance. “Community events like the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival help build a strong sense of belonging and connection for youth in our local community, an important mandate of Coast Capital’s Youth Get It Community Investment program.”

The Surrey Food Bank, Surrey Christmas Bureau, Sophie’s Place and the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society will also be on site collecting donations. For more information and performance schedules, including Santa’s arrival time, visit surrey.ca/treelighting